Free Louisiana Moon by Lani Rhea

included.
    “Maybe I could take her upstairs under the starlit painted ceiling and talk astronomy with her,” Roger said, adjusting his belt as he laughed.
    “Go right ahead, buddy. I’ll stay right here.” Darin’s main focus, to hang out with his buddies, faded. He didn’t know which part of the country or out of country he’d be shipped off to after he completed boot camp training. It might be a while before he’d have time like this so he wanted to remember everything about tonight.
    He examined the square wood paneling bar, accented with orange rope lights. Above the bar, purple and blue-lighted plates crowned block glass. Floor-to-ceiling white sheer curtains covered the windows in the grand room with red-velvet curtains as dividers. The environment swirled with sweaty bodies and sexually-charged public displays of affection.
    His gaze traveled to “the devil with the blue dress on” more than a few times.
    She smiled.
    In a casual move, he nodded.
    “How about if I see if I can get her to come over and talk to us?” Roger straightened his tan slacks and black shirt, loosening a couple of buttons.
    Darin snickered and shook his head. He watched people off to the side moving to the beat on the dance floor. Red, green and pink lights flashed overhead. The loud remixed music thumped beats off his chest, and he bobbed his head in sync with the rhythm. His friends’ laughter bellowed, just loud enough above the crowd and music.
    When the pretty thing slinked over, he blinked in surprise. She bit her full, pouty lips and mouthed if he’d like to dance.
    Darin pointed at himself.
    She smiled and winked.
    “Sure.” He could dance with a sexy lady one last time before heading home. No harm in that. Darin downed the beer.
    “Go get her,” Roger called after him.
    “Give us details,” Steven yelled then both men broke into whistles.
    Darin resisted the urge to flip them off. The woman turned on her high heels, sauntering toward the crowded dance floor in a seductive prance. A light scent of flowery perfume wafted in her wake, and his dick hardened even more.
    He brushed fingers through his hair to the base of his neck then straightened his tan slacks and blue shirt as he followed. He didn’t know how to explain it, but he felt honored she’d chosen him over his friends.
    On the dance floor, she swayed toward him, enticing him to join her. He encircled her tiny waist, fanning his fingers over her lower back, meshing their bodies together as Darin moved with her to the hypnotic sounds.
    Unable to look away, he was absorbed by the dark blue spheres of her eyes. A warm buzzing laced his mind the longer his gaze stayed locked on hers. She tugged his head down, and his lips connected with hers. Her kiss, a prowling passion, grew more fervent. Fingernails dug into the back of his neck sharp enough to cut but he didn’t care.
    When she nipped his bottom lip, pain mixed with pleasure shot through him. He’d never experienced anything like that kind of pain before—the sharp bite, then a coppery taste, the flavor of blood. When she sucked his bruised lip between hers, he moaned and hungered for more.
    Seconds, minutes, an eternity passed before she released his mouth. Part of his mind was in turmoil even as her low chuckle curled his toes.
    That damn enlistment date struck like church bells, bringing him back to reality. All for the country you love, man, all for the country. He’d have plenty of time for women after he finished boot camp. After he became a soldier. Shaking his head, he glanced up.
    In two dark corners in the club, there were two men standing off to the side watching people. Darin’s gaze snagged on theirs as they scanned the crowd seeming to search for a particular person.
    Something was offbeat about them, about the way they stood, the lack of a glint from the lights reflecting in their gazes. They didn’t fit into the trendy crowd.
    The hottie placed a palm on his cheek, turning his gaze to